SC ask Centre to set up panel for revisiting colonial era service norms of coast guard, armed forces

NEW DELHI: (Feb 28) The Supreme Court has asked the Centre not to remain stuck with British-era criteria on retirement age and service conditions of armed forces personnel, and consider constituting an expert committee to revisit the parameters of "highly skilled" coast guards.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi stayed an order of the Delhi High Court, which held that the Indian Coast Guard must have a uniform retirement age of 60 years for all ranks.

CJI Kant told Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave, "It is high time that these regulations governing the service conditions and retirement age are reviewed. The government cannot be stuck with the conditions envisaged and drafted in the British era. Nobody these days can imagine the role played by coast guards. The current retirement age appears to follow an old pattern."